Brian Alexander, an MSNBC.com contributor with his Sexploration column, has apparently delved into the world of political commentary with this new piece which ties conservatives to viral racism in the media.
The title itself is a little misleading:
Amid swine flu outbreak, racism goes viral
Anti-immigrant hatred spreads on talk radio, Web sites
If we're targeting conservative talk radio, and Alexander is, then the term ‘anti-immigrant' should be corrected. Conservatives aren't anti-immigrant, they're anti-criminal, much like liberals are anti-tax filing. Loving your country enough to request that anyone who wishes to be a member abide by their immigration laws, is not anti-immigrant, and making such an assessment by accusing the entire conservative philosophy as being racist is... well ... anti-intellectual. But then, that is the norm for commentary presented by MSNBC.
Further down in the column, Alexander explains that the real problem isn't just talk radio and Web sites in general. No, the main problem is actually racist conservatives (emphasis mine throughout):
"While the war of words is mainly between the conservative commentariat and Latino advocacy groups..."
Alexander strategically adds emphasis to other sections in his anti-conservative hit piece.
Ignorant beyond the pale
Blaming ‘the other'
Fighting racism with information
Carefully chosen words to be sure.
Of course, sprinkled throughout the column are out of context excerpts from talk show host Michael Savage, and conservative columnist Michelle Malkin.
The very first quote from Savage demonstrates that the conservative banter is not anti-immigrant, but rather, opposed to illegal immigration:
"No contact anywhere with an illegal alien!" conservative talk show host Michael Savage advised his U.S. listeners this week on how to avoid the swine flu.
Mr. Alexander, please direct your little eyes to a word you might have accidentally missed, or chose to ignore - illegal. Now feel free to head to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site, where it is clearly spelled out that, in order to gain legal citizenship, one must understand that:
Most applicants for adjustment of status are required to have a medical examination. The medical examination must be conducted by a civil surgeon who has been designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Here again, those who go through proper immigration procedures, will have had a medical examination as opposed to those who are crossing our borders through tunnels dug into the ground, who might have a disease or flu in tow.
Alexander then sets his sights on Michelle Malkin, quoting her April 25th column regarding swine flu and the borders:
"I've blogged for years about the spread of contagious diseases from around the world into the U.S. as a result of uncontrolled immigration," conservative columnist Michelle Malkin wrote on her Web site. "9/11 didn't convince the open-borders zealots to put down their race cards and confront reality. Maybe the threat of their sons or daughters contracting a deadly virus spread from south of the border to their Manhattan prep schools will."
For some biased reason, most likely the desire for continued employment at MSNBC, Alexander neglected to add a few key sentences from Malkin's article. Here is the actual portion of the column which was being taken out of context (omitted statements in bold):
I've blogged for years about the spread of contagious diseases from around the world into the U.S. as a result of uncontrolled immigration. We've heard for years from reckless open-borders ideologues who continue to insist there's nothing to worry about. And we've heard for years that calling any attention to the dangers of allowing untold numbers of people to pass across our borders and through our other ports of entry without proper medical screening - as required of every legal visitor/immigrant to this country - is RAAAACIST.
9/11 didn't convince the open-borders zealots to put down their race cards and confront reality.
Maybe the threat of their sons or daughters contracting a deadly virus spread from south of the border to their Manhattan prep schools will.
Funny that the omitted portion involves two key items which present the argument as wholly without prejudice: The concern for having proper medical screenings, and the adherence to U.S. laws by - and say it with me - legal immigrants.
Alexander further insults Malkin, by adding the comments of a one Sergio Ornelas who says,
"People who do not really know anything are creating ideas that don't really exist."
Savage and Malkin don't really know anything. And yet, when they talk about illegal immigration, millions of people are rightfully listening. When Americans demand border control and reject amnesty-granting policies, they are also listening, conservative or otherwise. Securing our country's borders is not racist, it's American.
Perhaps Mr. Alexander would be better served if he ceased trying to explore the realm of political commentary, and stick to sexploring topics with which he is familiar.
Photo Credit: Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
The Race Card must be played
May 1, 2009 - 20:48 ET by dark_dsThe Race Card must be played by these folks .. its just what they do
_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on
Well I am waiting
May 1, 2009 - 23:17 ET by general companyFor those that are the supposed targets of racism to inform us that our PC is not necessary? Sorry but I just love the folks, regardless of where they come from, or wheather or not they are religious. The race card should make the benifactors feel,,well,, inept.
I also love Michelle
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Jay Severin did deserve to be fired.
May 1, 2009 - 21:11 ET by superconWhat he said was pretty bad and I wouldn't support those statements.
http://www.boston.co...
"Jay Severin, the fiery right wing talk show host on Boston's WTKK-FM
radio station, was suspended yesterday after calling Mexican immigrants
"criminaliens," "primitives," "leeches," and exporters of "women with
mustaches and VD," among other incendiary comments."
"Later, he described Mexicans as "the world's lowest of primitives."
You can't say stuff like that on the air.Michael Savage goes on a rant every night but even he wouldn't be so stupid to openly insult an entire group of people.Severin came across like a Klan member.
The guy always was sort of a pompous jerk.I stopped listening to him years ago.
Hey Janet Napolitano...I'm proud to be a Right-winger.
**supercon
May 1, 2009 - 21:15 ET by pelicanmarsh"Later, he described Mexicans as "the world's lowest of primitives."
Yikes! That is Klan rhetoric!
(shaking my head in disbelief...) Severin,....you Stupid idiot.
Joe Blogs
May 2, 2009 - 07:43 ET by Joe BlogsI think Severin's frustration just came to a boil after watching the destructive effects of illegal immigration in Massachussetts. And Mexicans are fairly primitive people, with poor education and a highly unsophisticated culture totally lacking in universal appeal and nearly devoid of significant scientific, artistic, or political achievement: this is not a racist observation, it's a comparative truth. And everyone pretty much knows in California that wherever Mexican's gain majority, society turns incredibly unpleasant, corrupt, poor, and stagnant. Even Mexicans know this which is why they have spread out into Red States. I'm inclined to err on the side of forgiving people like Severin who make fools of themselves. I mean, how is what Severin said about Mexicans on one occasion any worse than what Jeremiah Wright vomits up about white people on a weekly basis. Yet, Obama seemed to be quite forgiving of him. Okay, I suppose one legitimate reaction is that Obama is a festering racist who approved of Wright's extremism. Hell, it's probably the truth. The way I see it the whole "transformational" presidency of Obama is about destroying the political and economic power of the dwindling white majority through immigration and wealth destroying policies. It's a long dark night for America, folks.
A warning to the wise. If you want to effectively criticize Mexican immigration, all you need to do is stick to the facts
sc... I've posted that
May 1, 2009 - 21:24 ET by bigtimersc...
I've posted that link elsewhere myself...do you wonder if the people that wrote this may have left out the word "illegal" as all the msm does..intetionally?
Did you hear the show and the callers and his response...I'm just wondering...because freedom of speech is so PC now when it comes to the right and how the left dictates how it has to be or you will be fired, yet the left can spew all the filthy, screaming BS in your ears with their diatribes in the most sickening way about anybody on the right they do not like is okay?
Oh...the hypocrisy.
Worry not..Fairness Doctrine is on it's way.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Well I have to admit...
May 1, 2009 - 21:41 ET by superconIt does only seem that only righties ever pay the price for hate speech.I guess it's because we're all tea bagging redneck racists.
Hey Janet Napolitano...I'm proud to be a Right-winger.
Severin was a card carrying lefty in the 1970s
May 2, 2009 - 06:31 ET by Paarland a close associate of the Chicago 7 like Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin...mmm..how times have changed. I have listened to him...entertaining and fairly knowledgeable but like everyone who changes stripes in such a radical fashion....not to be trusted....
He is or was a successful political consultant in America and overseas.
There are better purveyors of conservative ideas than Severin around and more articulate.
Paarl of Rhodesia
**Comment
May 1, 2009 - 21:12 ET by pelicanmarshSo it's racist of me to wish that all illegal immigrants/aliens in our country should return to their own countries, and come back here later legally?
Hmm. I can live with that.
No,
May 2, 2009 - 11:42 ET by Jen7it's racist to deem them primitive, dirty, 'cimminalieans', etc.
You can reasonably argue about illegal immigration. But to rant about it because of the swine flu, as if it's a reason it's here in the US, is innacurate. Illegals didn't bring the swine flu here. All indications lead to students in NY who went on vacation in Mexico. The poor 22 month old child that died was NOT illegal, he was visiting with his family. Oh, and the man Obama shook hands with in Mexico did NOT die from the swine flu. I know that's a biggun' that right-wingers love to guffaw over.
I'd like to commend the orginal poster who condemned this man's racist comments. It's too bad more people like him/her are not on this website. We need em'.
As you may presently yourself be fully made aware of, my grammar sucks.
Family Guy
are you hallucinating Jen?
May 2, 2009 - 11:50 ET by botgwhere did pelican say any of that?
"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend,------------inside a dog it's too dark to read" ---Groucho
→ Jen7
May 2, 2009 - 11:54 ET by Cool ArrowJen failed reading comprehension on that one, but give her an A+ for imagination.
It's hard to talk when you're teabagging - Anderson Cooper
They always ignore the term illegal
May 1, 2009 - 21:19 ET by RD Kingit's the obama way.
ANOTHER ZOMBIE MEDIA ATTACK IN THE SAME DAY.
May 1, 2009 - 22:14 ET by Rod PatrickYuck!
ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, NYT, WAPO.... and CNN:
The Zombie Media of the Obamaics!
enforce
May 1, 2009 - 22:35 ET by RowaneEnforce the frigging laws! Thats the most comprehensive immigration strategy we should be looking at.
They don't have to argue
May 1, 2009 - 22:53 ET by mattmThey don't have to argue with evil racist hatemongers. Fortunately for them, everyone who disagrees with them is an evil racist hatemonger.
MSNBC is one big hatefest.
May 1, 2009 - 23:54 ET by RogerCfromSDMSNBC is one big hatefest. Hate for all things American.
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
Heck
May 2, 2009 - 01:15 ET by ChattychitoDidn't Brian Alexander even notice that like my wife, Michelle is a woman of color and ethnic backgrond surely she could never be a racist?
Brian you always point out race when it doesn't exist in the context. You are a Bigot as well as a racist Brian
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
Accusations of racism are
May 2, 2009 - 03:07 ET by snaggletoothieAccusations of racism are the last refuge of a scoundrel.
*
Jay Severin is way off topic.
Do I think this country
May 2, 2009 - 02:13 ET by mostlymoderateDo I think this country would be better off without all the illegal aliens? Yes I do. Do I believe a person should be able to break the law and, if they break it long enough, become citizens? No I don't. If that makes me a racist, well I guess I am racist.
I concur completely with
May 2, 2009 - 05:10 ET by George S PattonI concur completely with MM's statement below.
"Do I think this country would be better off without all the illegal aliens? Yes I do. Do I believe a person should be able to break the law and, if they break it long enough, become citizens? No I don't. If that makes me a racist, well I guess I am racist."
Getting quite old
May 2, 2009 - 10:20 ET by iveseenitallWhy is the truth from the right called "hate speech" while the lies from the left are called "free speech"? Because name calling has always been an effective tool for the left to cover their lies and personally destroy anyone who disagrees with them.
But the name-calling canard is getting quite old. As the "liberals" profile returning war vets, support the racist policy of affirmative action, and favor abortion which has been used to "purify" races, they call anyone who wishes to have the laws of America obeyed "racists". Socialist, anti-American hypocrites!
Problem for the intolerant "liberals" is that they've "cried wolf" too often. Many more Americans are becoming less afraid to stand up for the truth and more willing to suffer the barbs of the ignorant, immature loudmouths on the left. What is that old saying..."Sticks and stones..."?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I agree. Used to be
May 2, 2009 - 15:59 ET by mostlymoderateI agree. Used to be offensive when liberals called me racist. Deep down inside, I know I am not racist but just believe in upholding the law and enforcing the law. So go ahead, call me racist. Doesn't bother me.
it's a "black or white"
May 2, 2009 - 11:28 ET by NonArabOmarit's a "black or white" issue. There is no gray area. You either migrated legally or you didn't.
The law should be enforced and all illegal immigrants should be deported without a second thought about their situation.
You can't debate it. There is no debate. It's a very simple problem with a very simple solution.
If america needs cheap foreign labor then our elective representatives should take the appropriate measures to open up legal immigration to unskilled laborers. Ignoring our borders and indirectly allowing millions of people to cross our borders without any screening process is reckless.
wait 'til you see what's coming
May 2, 2009 - 13:08 ET by CatherwoodI live in a small central Florida town which has been overrun by illegal immigrants to the point that the town itself is hardly recognizable anymore. I work with the public so I am exposed everyday to the musings and gripes of both the indigenous folk and the illegals themselves. I hear from the mouth of Obama and from the liberal media the these illegals love America and plan to assimilate into the American culture and become active and productive members of it. Well, wake up. These illegals have no intention of assimilating and if you look closely, you will see that they hate America and have the goal of destroying what they can of it and taking some of it back for the love of Mexcan nationalism. For example, gangbangers in this area have 100% tatooed on their necks. When I asked about this, I was told by an illegal mom who came here to have anchor babies that the tatoo meant that they were 100% Mexican. The mom explained further that most illegal Mexicans urge their children to not only remember old Mexico but to also remember that someday entire swaths of America will be again Mexican. Subsequently, I talked to some of the gangbangers themselves about their intentions. They let me know without any equivocation that they hated the 'gringo cops, the 'gringo school' teachers, and all things American because they felt like Americans were looking down on them and disrespecting them. I asked these guys about the free schools, free medical care and free food stamps that they receive on a regular basis from Americans. Their general response centered around the idea that they deserved certain things like that because we Americans had stolen the land from them in the first place; they were here first, they said. Not long ago all this mentality was abruptly personified when two of these same gangbangers trashed a brand new middle school. They broke in at night, spraypainted the new auditorium and gymnasium, ripped classrooms apart, sprayed fire extinguishers on woodwork and texts, smashed windows, and wrote threatening messages to teachers on the walls, promising to 'get them' next. In all they did about $45,000 worth of damages and were the cause of school being canceled the next day. Because of their own stupidity and video cameras they were quickly caught. Almost immediately, their parents threatened to sue the school because its security gates were not high enough and some doors at the school had been accidentally left open. At trial in juvenile court, it was revealed that the whole rampage was a gang initiation ritual which, of course, the two vandals passed with colors even to the point of having 'atta boy' tatooed on their shoulders before they were arrested one day later. The video cameras recorded almost all of their rampage and when confronted with the evidence, they confessed and were sentenced to one year in a juvenile facility and fined $25,000 each. Of course, they will never repay the money. The judge also sentenced them to the custody of the American Legion for one day where they were suppose to view a full flag retirement ceremony. Naturally, observers wanted to know why the judge sentenced them to view such a ceremony. It was then learned that during their rampage, one of their last acts was to tear down an American flag from one the classrooms, drag it out into the hall where there were cameras and urinate on it just to be sure we all knew they truly hated America and despised the flag they had to pledge allegiance to every morning--they said that they resented having to do that. Affter all this was over, one of their compatriots at the school they destroyed was required to write an essay about the event. In it he praised his brothers for their actions and wished that he could do such a glorious thing someday. He also wrote that what his friends did was nothing and he concluded by saying 'wait 'till you see what's coming'.
LOL, who cares, MSNBC has
May 2, 2009 - 13:29 ET by maxvoltLOL, who cares, MSNBC has made themselves totally irrelevant...have you seen what their management plan has done to their ratings...my God they are almost not even on TV. lol.
Both my parents were born in
May 3, 2009 - 23:35 ET by rbosqueBoth my parents were born in Mexico but they came in the 50's ...legally! My family and I are very much anti-ILLEGAL imigration. If they don't bother to do things right then they shouldn't even be considered for "amnesty". These people do not love America, if they did they'd do it right. They are thieves coming in through the window then demanding that you feed and clothe them. It's insane.
Racism is When Conservatives Speak
May 4, 2009 - 07:14 ET by Mencken-LiteEric Holder: Americans are cowards because they fear to speak about racism. Oh? Do they enjoy being called racist when they speak about racism? If Americans talk about illegal immigration that too is racist. Janeane Garofalo: If Americans criticize the President that is racist too. If Americans warn about contagious flu epidemic that too is racist. When Obama refers to typical white people, and Jesse Jackson refers to New York as Hymietown that's not racist. Conservatives are to be seen but not heard. Don't you know? Hate speech is only for liberals.
Mencken-Lite
enoughroomvideo.blogspot.com